In front of a very big crowd the Bulldogs came from behind to snatch a one-point victory in the most enthralling grand final in SGL history.
Central missed many easy shots in front of goal, during the last three quarters keeping the Bulldogs in the game.
When the game was there for the taking in the final minute the Bulldogs grabbed it by the throat with a goal into the wind winning by one point.
The game was held in windy conditions with the wind blowing toward the main oval gate favouring the Cathedral End.
Steve Clark and Hayden Kennedy were the umpires in charge of the match.
The game as you would expect started hard and tough with a scrimmage in the centre.
The Bloods managed to go forward into the wind and Nathan Lawrence kicked the first goal of the match.
Both teams kept throwing themselves hard at the ball and following a 10 minute period with neither side able to kick a major score, Norm Wombat at the 15 minute mark kicked the Bulldog’s first goal.
This seemed to open the flood gates for Port with Port ruckman Michael Burford giving his forwards good use of the ball.
Jordan Coombe and Greg Phillips went goal for goal kicking two goals each.
The Bulldogs had all the play late in the quarter and went in at quarter time with a 27-point lead.
Central started the second quarter well and Andrew Williams, who was the best player on the ground winning the Connelly Medal, seemed to be everywhere.
It was not long before Central’s goal kicker Sean Dawson kicked Central’s first for the term.
Central had all the play for the next 10 minutes but their forward players could not manage to put the ball between the big sticks and they kicked six points straight.
Port went forward at the 15-minute mark and Phillips with his third goal gave the Bulldogs a 23-point lead.
Central’s Nick Callery gave the Bloods good drive out of the middle and following another two minor scores Joel Dodd finally kicked a goal for Central and cut back the Bulldogs’ lead to 15 points.
Daniel Baker after missing easy shots on goal early in the term finally goaled, and the Bloods with another three minor scores late in the quarter went in at half time trailing by five points after kicking two goals 12 points for the quarter.
The third quarter was a hard-slog early.
The Bulldogs now had the use of the breeze, but neither side managed to score in the first 10 minutes of play.
Central scored first with a point followed by a goal from the boot of Kane Allen giving the Bloods the lead for the first time since early in the first term.
Central despite kicking against the breeze kept attacking and were still wasting opportunities in front of goal.
The Bulldogs did not score in the term until Phillips, one of the Bulldogs’ best players on the day, kicked his fourth goal for the match at the 25-minute mark levelling the scores.
The Bulldogs’ Aaron Casey who was doing a great tagging job keeping the Bloods’ dangerous Ben Yeomans out of the game, grabbed the ball out of the pack and kicked a long timely goal giving the Bulldogs a three point lead at the last change.
The game looked set for a great final term and that is just what happened.
Central went forward early and Dawson kicked his second goal for the match at the three minute mark and the scores were again level.
Port were going forward when Central’s Mark Fuller was struck behind play inside Centrals forward 50m.
The ball was taken down and he goaled giving the Bloods a six-point lead.
Port then rallied and following a minor score from Matt Kendall.
Wombat at the 10-minute mark kicked his second for the match giving the Bulldogs back a one point lead.
The game was very tight with Williams and Callary and Tim O’Connor doing all they could to get Central back the lead and Shannon Wilson did just that at the 22-minute mark when he scored a major giving the Bloods a four point lead.
Central again went forward and could have put the game out of the Bulldogs’ reach but Kane Allen missed an easy shot on goal.
The Bulldogs went forward on the grandstand side and from a miss kick from Central Josh Sykes got the ball, kicked to Adam Wilson who with a good kick to Wombat who marked in the goal square, played on and goaled giving the Bulldogs a one point lead with a minute to go and the rest is history.
The Port Augusta and Port Pirie supporters looked shell shocked when the siren blew.
The Bloods had nine more scoring shots only to go down to the Bulldogs by one point.
If any supporters of any club wish to see the trophies they are over in the usual place on Wandearah Road where they have been now for eight of the past 11 years.
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